But England's medical staff have been in touch with the Gunners to reassure them the setback he has suffered in the past few days is minor and that he will be able to start preparations for the 2014-15 campaign on schedule.

Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered the original injury in England's warm-up game against Ecuador in Miami nearly three weeks ago.

The 20-year-old was making good progress and had stepped up his training programme with the hope of facing Costa Rica in already-eliminated England's dead-rubber final group match.

England boss Roy Hodgson explained: "He took part in training and we thought he was 100 per cent OK, but he took a ball... he intercepted a pass with the wrong part of his foot and it twisted his knee.

"It's been a great shame for him, because we really thought he could have made an impact for us here and it's been disappointing. He's worked hard to get back to fitness so this is a shame for him. On the whole, we've been fortunate with injuries but he's been the unlucky one."

(Image: Action Images)

Oxlade-Chamberlain - who missed much of last season with a knee injury - will now have around a month's rest before reporting for pre-season training.

Arsenal are understood to be relaxed about his injury and the rehabilitation programme he has been on to get him fit again.

They also believe a rest is exactly what he needs after a frustrating run of injuries - he missed the end of last season with a groin problem.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will give any of his players who progress beyond the World Cup group stages an extended break.

But those not involved at Brazil 2014 or who, like England, go out at the group stage, will be expected to be back in training and available for Arsenal's pre-season friendly against Gunners icon Thierry Henry's New York Red Bulls in the US on July 26.

It looks as if Theo Walcott will not be back in time for pre-season but his rehab following January's season-ending knee injury is believed to be going going well.